Automatic air release



VW. BALL. AUTOMATIC AIR RELEASE.

APPLICATION FILED MAR. 5. 1921.

Patented Apr. 25, 1922.

2 s'IIEETs- ETI MINA N* @NY .NAN

NWJ mk.

.N @AAI SI l w. BALL.. AUTOMATIC AIR RELEASE'.

APPLICATION 'FILED MAR. 5,1921.

1,414,249; Patented Apr. 25, 1922.

2 SHEETS-SET 2.

i 2 f Y' 1,414,249 4 \k\ f member 23 has annular channels 26 to move .I into registration with the ports 24 and simultaneously, as seen in Fig. 1.. The ports 24open into the atmosphere, while'the ports `251are in communication with the opposite'- e'ndsf of thef chamber offthe cylinderrlO.. rlhus, a piece 27 is secured to that side ofV i the block 21 which has the ports 25 by means atmosphere by Way of the pipes 30, ports 25, .channels 26 and ports 24, which will permit Y i-the air to escape when the piston 11 is recipof screws 28, or the likeand said plate has Openings 29 registering with they ports 25 and into which the adjacent` ends oii a pair of pipes 30 are secured 'in-communication with lthe ports 25, While-the'opposite ends ofsaid pipes are engaged through the Ywall oi the cylinder'- 10 in communication with the interior oi'fsaid cylinder Thus, when Vthe valvemember 23 isslid to open position,v as seen in Fig.y 1, with'the channels 26 register- Ving with the ports'24 and 25,'the endsof the aircompressor'cylinder10 are opened tothe rocated. However, vvhenthe valve member .18 is slid to remove the. channels 23lfrom the ports 24,V this will 'close such airV escape outlets.` v Y j The'plate 27 and block 21 have a lubricant duct 31 extending to the bore 22 between the ports'25, for injecting lubricant to lubricate the surfaces between thel block 21-and valve :member 23. Automatic means is provided for operat` ing the air releasing valve whereby toopen suchvalve when the motor 18 is started, and to then closeV the valve when running conditionsare obtained.v Such means includes a solenoid 32 disposed inalinement with the valve, and having the endplates 33. rlhes'e plates 33 have supporting portions 34 'extending laterally from the solenoid (down.

wardly as shown) to .seat on or'bear against a longitudinal supporting bar, 36, and. said portions 24 have lugs 35 to overlap the opposite edges of the bar 36, to guide the solenoid for sliding` adjustment along the bar 36. j V Clamping rods 37 are bent to embrace they solenoid and their terminals .project from the solenoid across the opposite edges-of the ,bar 36 and passthrough transverse clamping strips 39 extending across the bar 36 oppo v fsite to the selenoid, and nuts 38 are threaded on the terminals of theV rods 37, whereby 'te clamp the strips 39 and end plates 33 against the bar 36.V By loosening the nuts 38, the

solenoid is released, so that'it'can be slid orVV vadjusted longitudinally along the bar' 36,

when it is desired to yregulate*the pull exerted on the core or plunger 40 of the solenoid which pro-jects from that end thereof` Y p adjacent tothe valve.

The solenoid hasfa central tube 44 in which the core `40 is slid- K able and around which the coil is wound.

The operative connection `between the valveand solenoid includes @longitudinal rod41 extendingthrough central bores with --which the valve member 23 and core orplun-'V .ger 40 are provided, and said r'plunger and valve member are secured in position' on said rod by Ameans of the respective nuts 42jand 70 lease. Thus,'a Z-bra'cket 45 has oneflange secured to the bottom fofthe,bl0cl..,21,V by y screws 46, or the like,and .the other fiangfe is 8O .clamped on the bar 36fby,means otl bolts 47,. or the like.` `The bar;f36 isthussupported from the block 21, and in turn supports theV solenoid. i

The'rod'41 isspringlpressedftocontrol 85 'i movement and'return the valve to closed po,-V f l sitien, whenthe solenoid v ifs rdeenergized.v To f .Y

'this' end, a pair of Ylongitudinallyspaced posts 48 and 49 are secured onfthe bar36 4beyond that end' of thev valve oppositetothe '90 solenoid., and the rod 41 extends slidably throughsaidposts. v Pairsof nuts 50 and 51 are threaded on the rod 41 between the posts 48 and 49, and coiled limiting and cushion l 4or buffer springs v52 and 53fare'disposed-onY 95 y i jsail rod between the posts 48 and 49 and-the p knuts 50 and 51, respectively'.v The springs y52 and 53 will be compressed'byy the `opening l kand closing movement of the" valve,-toflim'it` such movements of the valve, and to also cushion the .valve in opening Vand closing. YA returning spring.54, which is 'a' coiled eXpansion spring,'is disposedon the rod 41`andvl is 1 fconiined between.the post 48 and nuts55 threadedA on that terminaflvoiitherod'oppo- 105 siteto the solenoid. 'The nuts 50,751 and-55 can be 'adjusted to regulate ther-.tension ofV v the springs, and the tension of the spring 54l .will serve to return the valve to Vclosedfposition. Y 110 In order to energizel the solenoidv 32` 'durv4ing the startingrot'fthe motor18," suchsolenoid isdisposed inone of motor circuits, dur! ing starting. Thusfasshown in Fig. 5, the

leads 56 of the solenoid are connected to one,115

circuit 19 to interpose thesolenoid 32vin the .3

circuit in series, although othercofnnections*V Y of vthe solenoid wlth themetor circuits ore;

startercan beused according tothe .conditions; lnsome cases,` the solenoid trical current during the starting of the rncl tor 1s. suliicient so that the energization el the solenoid 1s suiiicientto pull the plunger' 40v and rod 41 against the tension-'ofthe 1275 Aspring.54,#whe'reas whenthe motor has assumed running condition, the tension of the spring 54 is sulicient to returnthe valve and -1 solenoidv plunger even though the solenoid many remain energized., Such energizatiojn 130 n y canA re- `malnin the motor circuit, whereby.the-elec-K'- however, is decreased from starting conditions, owing to the abnormal current strength during starting.

In operation, when the motor 18 is started, the solenoid 32 is energized whereby to pull its plunger or'core 40 into the solenoid (to the rightas seen in Figs. 1 and 2) thereby pulling the rod 41, and sliding the valve memberv 23 to opened position, as seen in said figures. The release valve is thus opened the momentthe electrical current is supplied to the motor, whereby the air can escape from the air compressor, provid-v ingfor the easyl and rapid starting of `the When the speed of the Amotor and compressor have reached running con- Vditions, then the solenoid 32 is deenergized,

such as cutting it out of the circuit, as seen in Fig. 6, whereby the springV 54: will return the valve memberV 23 to closed position, thereby preventing the further escape of air. The spring 53 being compressed by the nuts 51 during the opening movement of the vvalve member 23, will limit andcushionv such movement, while the spring 52 will similarly limit and cushion the return or closing movement of the valve member under the influence of the spring 54. In practice, it has beenl found that by so-releasing the air, the motor and compressor will start quickly, and there will only be a few hisses ofthe escaping air, before running conditions are obtained, whereasV without the release of the air it requires considerable effort on the part of the motor to get the compressor-into fulloperation.

The device will relieve the belt 16 and motor 18 of the burden of strain during the starting of the motor, until the speed is picked up'` when the release valve closes.

Having thus described the invention, what is claimedas new is v1. The combination of an air compressor, means for driving said compressor, air escape means for said compressor, and auto-v matic means operable with thel startingof said driving means'for permitting Vthe escape of' air from ksaid compressor.

Y 2. Thecombination of anair compressor, an electric motor connected thereto for driv- Vand electrically-energized means operable,

when the motor is started, for controlling said means to permit the air to escape from 'said compressor.

4. The combination of an air compressor,` .an electric motor for driving said compressor, air Vrelease means for said comsignature.

presser including a normally-closed valve, and electrically-energized means operable' simultaneously with the starting of said'hmo-k l .tor for openingsaid valve. 1 z

5. The kcombination with an air 4coinpresser, of a valve block having ports,'meansY valve memberu and having its vplunger con` nected thereto.'- v U 6;'The' combination -with lan air compressor, of a valve blocl; having ports, means connecting said block and compressorV for.V

establishing Vcommunication between said r 'compressor and ports and supporting saidk block, a valve vmember slidable insaid blockl and having channels to' register said ports for theescape of air, a'bar secured to and supported from'saidblock, anda solenoid mounted on said bar andI having its plunger connected to the valve member.` y p 7. An air release comprising a valve block,

solenoid having a plunger connected tov the valve member Vfor moving the valve member in one direction for bringingthe valve member to open positiommeans `for moving Vthe,

Y va valve member slidableV in said block, a

valve member in thelopposite directionto] 5' closed position, and vspring means for limit- I ing and cushioning the movement of the valve member in opposite directions. v

8. An airrelease comprising a valve block having ports, a lvalve member slidable in said block and having channels to register v with said ports, a solenoid inalinement with saidv valve member having a plunger, to move the `valve in one'direction when' the solenoid energized, means for moving the valve member in the opposite direction when theV solenoid is deenergized, and spring means for limiting and cushioning the -movements of said valve member in opposite directions.

9. An airrelease device comprising a bar., a valve block secured to said bar and havi ing ports, a 'valve membery slidableinsaid block and having channelsto register with' said ports, a solenoid securedfonsaid bar n v having a plunger inl alinement with said ing it, air release means for said compressor,

valve member, posts carried by saidfblocl, a`-

rod securedwithin said valve memberand plunger'v and slidableV through said posts, limiting vand Vcushioning springson saidfrod bearing against said posts, members carried f by the rod to contact with said springs` whenk the valve is opened and closed, anda re1-V turning spring on the rod bearing against one Ypost for moving the valve to returnv same Vand said plunger when the solenoid is deenergized.

In testimony whereof hereunto` aix my l s i Y WALTER BALL. 

